Memphis offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn (middle) prepares to break a slab of concrete with the teams player of the game sledge hammer after defeating SMU in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Memphis head coach Mike Norvell (middle) gets a dumped with a cooler of water after winning the American Athletic Conference West Division Championship by defeating SMU 66-45 in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Memphis head coach Mike Norvell (middle) gets a dumped with a cooler of water after winning the American Athletic Conference West Division Championship by defeating SMU 66-45 in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Memphis running back Patrick Taylor, Jr. (left) scrambles past the SMU defense for a first down during second quarter action in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, middle, chats with his players in the locker room after defeating SMU 66-45 to win the American Athletic Conference West Division Championship in Memphis on Nov. 18, 2017.
Mark Weber / The Commercial Appeal

Memphis receiver Anthony Miller (left) looks for a lane to run through against the SMU defense during fourth quarter action in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Memphis receiver Anthony Miller (bottom) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against the SMU defense during second quarter action in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, November 18, 2017.
Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

The Memphis football team moved one step closer to hosting the American Athletic Conference championship game with the release of the latest College Football Playoff selection committee rankings on Tuesday night.

The Tigers were slotted at No. 20 this week, behind No. 15 UCF and ahead of No. 23 Boise State and unranked South Florida among their Group of Five conference counterparts.

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The Tigers have already qualified for the AAC championship game, but coach Mike Norvell said the focus this week is on ECU.
Mark Giannotto/The Commercial Appeal

It’s notable because of the possibility that USF upsets UCF Friday afternoon and advances to the AAC championship game.

Because Memphis did not face USF this season, the league’s tiebreaker procedures stipulate the highest-ranked team in the CFP rankings that also wins its final regular-season game will serve as host. The AAC does not wait for next Tuesday's CFP rankings to determine the site of its championship game.

So if the Tigers beat East Carolina on Saturday and USF beats UCF, the AAC championship game would be played at the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 2. If UCF defeats USF, the championship game would take place in Orlando on the same date.

Memphis captured the AAC West title with Saturday's win over SMU and will make its first appearance in the league's championship game regardless of the outcome against ECU.

The Tigers have won nine of their first 10 games for the first time since 1963. If Memphis can beat ECU, it would win 10 games for just the second time and also complete its first undefeated campaign at the Liberty Bowl since the stadium opened in 1965.

Alabama was ranked No. 1 by the CFP selection committee on Tuesday night, followed by Miami, Clemson and Oklahoma.

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Memphis WR Anthony Miller expresses his disappointment in not being named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Mark Giannotto/The Commercial Appeal

Miller responds to Biletnikoff snub

Wide receiver Anthony Miller is among those miffed at why he was not among the three finalists for this year’s Biletnikoff Award, given annually to college football’s top wide receiver. He didn’t hide his disappointment when asked following practice on Tuesday.

“I ain’t understand that decision, but it seems like that’s what’s been happening to me my entire career and I continue to prove people wrong,” Miller said. “So at the end of the day, I’m going to continue to do work and these next few teams that we play, I’m going to take my anger out on them.”

Miller is the only player in the country to rank among the top five in catches per game, receiving yards per game and touchdowns. The Memphis native also holds school records for career receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

He is a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded the nation’s top player who began his career as a walk on.